The European Union has committed 25,000 Euros to support the Guyana Elections Commission (Gecom) in re-establishing its Media Monitoring Unit and has provided an additional sum for capacity-building.
Roland Schaefer, Director of the Americas Department in the European External Action Service, who was in Guyana on a two-day working visit, and Gecom Chairman Dr Steve Surujbally endorsed the initiative on Wednesday morning at Gecom’s headquarters.
Funding the re-establishment of the Media Monitoring Unit within Gecom comes from the governance component of the Technical Assistance Facility of the 10th European Development Fund, a press statement from the European Union (EU) Commission in Guyana said. Funding has also been given by the EU from this instrument to provide two international experts to support Gecom in its capacity-building activities.
Total EU funding in support of Gecom related activities ahead of the upcoming elections amounts to 300,000, the EU said, while noting that the initiatives were undertaken following requests for assistance from Gecom and the Guyana Government.
Schaefer also paid courtesy call son President Donald Ramotar and other ministers, the EU also noted.
